Ka Wai Ola - Office of Hawaiian Affairs, Volume 5, Number 4, 1 ʻApelila 1988 — Senator Hee Among Those Praising New Judge [ARTICLE+ILLUSTRATION]

Senator Hee Among Those Praising New Judge

Kaulukukui Sworn in; Will Give 'Very Best I Have'

By Kenny Haina, Editor Ka Wai Ola O OHA "I am honored, truly honored to join this profession of high esteem. I have a willingness to work hard. 1 will give this position the very best I have." With these remarks, ThomasKaauwaiKaulukukui Jr. took his plaee in the State of Hawaii Judiciary System as a judge of the First Circuit Council in Honolulu following his swearing-in Mar. 10 in the courtroom of the Supreme Court of Hawaii. The courtroom was filled to overflowing as ohana, aikane and members and workers of the law profession witnessed the 35-minute ceremony whieh saw Chief Justice Herman Lum administer the oath of office.

Following signing of the oath and traditional robing of the new judge by Chief Clerk Samuel Makekau, there were brief remarks from Governor John David Waihee III, Chief Justice Lum and several other dignitaries. Kaulukukui is Waihee's first nominahon to the bench since becoming Hawaii's first Hawaiian governor since statehood. Among those in the auelienee was Senate Judiciary Committee Chairman Clayton Hee who was introduced by the chief justice. Lum explained he had asked the senator to say a few words. Hee shook Kaulukukui's hand, took the podium and told the audience he was offering congratulations and best wishes of the senators and his eommittee. "I don't think the public deserves anything less," he said.

Waihee in his remarks noted that Kaulukukui is the first graduate of the University of Hawaii William S. Richardson School of Law to become a Circuit Court judge. Waihee, himself a graduate of the same law school, added that "It's something I personally feel warm about." Others delivering brief congratulatory remarks were the chief justice; House Speaker Daniel J. Kihano; Momi Cazimero, vice chairwoman of the

state Judicial Selection Commission; Circuit Judge Patrick K. S. L. Yim, president of the Hawaii State Trial Judges' Association; William McCorriston, president of the Hawaii State Bar Association who noted with pride that this was a "popular nomination of a loeal boy."

It was a proud afternoon for Hawaiians in the audience as one of tlnem remarked: "I feel a special pride in me because this is a Hawaiian who just became a new judge. Look at all the other judges sitting in this room. A few of them are Hawaiians, too." He pointed out Judges Yim, Wendell Huddy and Walter Heen. "I know there are others but I can't remember their names," the Hawaiian observer explained.

During his bnef remarks, the new judge introduced his father, Thomas K. (Unele Tommy) Kaulukukui Sr. and hi= mother, Felice; his wife of 21 years, Joyce Weber Kaulukukui; son, Toby; and daughter, Jody. Others of the Kaulukukui elan in the audience were uncles Solomon and Richard. Young Kaulukukui, 42, a 1963 graduate of The Kamehameha Schools, is also a decorated Vietnam War veteran. He holds a Bachelor of Science degree in education from Michigan State University with the Class of 1967. He served in Vietnam the next two years and returned to MSU for another year of study before coming home in 1971 . He was a school teacher at Kailua High and also at Samuel Wilder King Intermediate in Kaneohe before deciding on a law career.

He entered the Richardson School of Law in 1974, graduating in 1977. After one year as a law clerk, he entered into the private practice of law in 1978. His wife, incidentally, is on the Kamehameha faculty and two of his three children are also students at the Kapalama Heights campus. A third attends school in Kailua.

Newly sworn-in Circuit Court Judge Thomas K. Kaululukui Jr. of Honolulu is robed by Chief Clerk Samuel Makekau.

Senator Clayton Hee, chairman of the Senate Judiciary Committee, addresses audience.